To the Maxi

It's getting to be that time of year where all you ladies are venturing out into the sun in your dresses.  I have not been a dress wearer in years.  It mostly stems from many years in private school where the only option I had was to wear a dress (with itchy tights) and leather t-straps.

This is me - circa 1985.  Apparently, the apple basket was a prop.  :)

Now, that doesn't mean I don't like dresses, it just means that I am beyond particular about the dresses I like.  I know what fits my shape and what flatters my good points.  I feel as though the 50s shirt dress is just right for me.  It has support for my girls (a bra is a must!) and can be brought in at the waste giving me that oh so desired hour glass figure.

So - here's the challenge:  Can we find dresses for this season that are flattering and appropriate for an everyday mom?

What's appropriate you ask?

1.  Must be worn with a bra - preferably not strapless (who can keep those puppies up???)

2.  Must be flattering or at least cute enough that we look forward to wearing it.

3.  Must be durable enough to withstand snot, poo, tears, and potentially puke (not mine - the littles!)

4.  Must be simple enough to construct so that if the littles do ruin it I don't' feel like I just wasted a week's salary and time.

Here are a few that I found that meet my criteria.  Feel free to add your own dresses and patterns in the comments below.  I would love to know what you think is most important in a dress.

Ahhhmazing dress made from a sheet - yes a bed sheet!

This beauty is from Running with Scissors.  It's divinely perfect if you ask me.  There's a tutorial too!

A simple tank dress that is truly fantastic!

Just add fabric length to your shirt.  Your tanks fit you, so this is functional and sexy!  Tank Maxi from A Small Snippet

Chevrons!!!

Anna Maria Horner does it again with her Empire Maxi.  It has great straps and can be altered to be chevron or not, short or long!

Which dresses are you looking forward to this season?  Who wants me to make one for them?

xoxo

b.

Be a Helper

Everyone knows about Boston and all the heartache that has happened in this city over the last week.  There have been so many images, quotes, and new stories that have focused on the event that it has been hard to deal with.  One thought that keeps bumping around in my brain is Mr. Rogers' quote reminding us to look for the helpers.  He is totally right.  When all is going wrong, it is important to look for the helpers and to be a helper.  

I teamed up with Sassy Steals and Kiss the Toad Creations to be a helper.  Along with other graphics designers from all over the country, we are doing a small thing that hopefully with change the lives of 384 boys and girls at the Boston Children's Hospital.  Everyone has a job!

Here's Mine!

1.  The graphics designers made the designs

2.  Sassy Steals is selling those designs for $4.99

3.  You buy a design for yourself, your mom, your dad, your kid, etc.

3.  Kiss the Toad Creations uses every $4.99 to make a super hero cape for a child at BCH.

4.  A child at BCH gets a cape and feels like super hero who can accomplish anything!

5.  Warm fuzzies for everyone!  Wooo!

So - you have the info and know where to go (http://www.sassysteals.com/).  Get going and make a difference!  Plus - you get a totally rad  digi print out of it.  

Madison Design Studio

Livy Love Designs

What should I do with this rad digi print you ask...

• Frame it!
• Put it on a t-shirt!
• Give it away to Mom for Mother's Day - she'll be impressed!
• Scrap it!
• Make it your desktop background!
• Make cards at your favorite printer!
• Do whatever you want!

Be a Helper!  

xoxo

b.

Vintage Hexi Project

Recently, I went to the Dallas Quilt Show where I was fortunate enough to run across a cute booth that was selling vintage quilting supplies, including these beauties!

I convinced the man running the booth that I just had to have all his hexis and we struck a bargain gaining me 40+ hexagon squares from the 1930s.  They are all hand cut and hand stitched.  Each one has a little bit of personality that just grabbed my attention.  All my life, I have had a weakness for anything from this era.  (Ever feel like you were born in the wrong decade???)   I am a complete sucker for this one featuring polka dots.

Now, the crafter in me says check the internet to see what can be done with these precious little hexis.  They cannot be made into a quilt without some serious work because they are on the frail side and because they were hand sewn, have very little seam allowances and honestly, are a little wonky - eh hem - unique.  I want them to be used in ways that will be respectful of the grandmother that spent hours making them, but modern enough that today's woman will appreciate them.  

These squares have been locked up for so many years, that they are begging to see the light.  So, it is my quest to make simple, beautiful art.  How will I do this?  I have no idea.  The internet is supposed to be chock full of ideas for everything and so far, no one has wowed me with fantastic ways to display vintage hexi squares.  I see them in frames, but they are blah.  I see them made into pillows, but as I said, that is not an option here unless I put some serious hours into each project.

So, tonight I made a prototype.  It's a little wonky, just like the hexis, but it's a start.  It's a shadow box with the square in it an then some lettering.  I went basic since this is just a trial run, but I can see a family name and the "est. DATE" after it on the glass.

So fans, followers, and fellow crafters, hook a girl up and spill the beans.  Is this a good direction?  Do you have better plans for my hexis?  Should I sell them as is or make kits?  Should I custom make shadow boxes for y'all?  Or, should I just hoard them and continue to call them precious???  What would you do?

One more picture, just because I love that she was so short on fabric that even the middle hexi is pieced together.  That says something doesn't it?

-b.

   

A little Inspiration to Make it to the Weekend

And because Ryan really knows how things work.

That Unmistakable Moment

You know the one.  The one when you realize that summer has officially arrived and that you can let loose and relax.  Yeah.  It happened for me at this very moment.  We have no pool.  We have a heat wave and therefore it was time to be resourceful.  We dumped out the toys, filled buckets with water and everyone had their very own personal swimming pool.  Summer is here.  Enjoy it while it lasts!

Stella enjoying her personal pool

A Life Lesson

Today started out all wrong.  We are moving and as anyone who has moved with little kids knows - moving is stressful.  The morning was going okay considering the daunting task of getting all of the stuff we accumulated in just five weeks jammed into our minivan to head over to TLF (temporary housing) on Kirtland AFB.  Honestly, you would not believe the stuff.  It was going to take two trips at least.

Kev went out to get the van ready as I had begun making a mountain of boxes and random bags at the front door, only to come back in and say that I needed to come here and see this.  He was very serious, which is unlike him, so I followed him out front to find that the side window of our minvan was smashed in.  My heart sank.  Kev had checked everything over and said amazed that nothing was missing.  However, I knew that wasn't the truth.  My camera bag that he bought me for our anniversary last year (the very bag I blogged about) was gone.  Inside was $8,000 of my camera equipment including my DSLR, lenses, meter, flash, cards, etc.  I was devastated. 

I literally fought back tears and began to shake.  Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.  I have always trusted people to do the right thing and have never had an issue with my belongings being destroyed and stolen right out front of my house.  This was a new feeling - violation.  I felt violated, then angry, then thankful that it was just stuff that was insured and could be replaced.  It is not an easy thing to experience loss. 

After spending the rest of the day filing police reports, insurance claims, and at the bodyshop, God taught me something.  I lost a camera today.  Last week, people lost their family members and entire neighborhoods.  I have to wait to get a new camera until things can get sorted out.  Those people have to figure out where they are going to live, where their next meal is coming from, and how to carry on for the sake of their children.  I am blessed and God has a plan.  He hasn't revealed it all to me yet, but I know deep down inside that He will take care of us, no matter the situation. 

At the start of the day, I was angry with the person that did this to me, but in the end, I am thankful that God will take care of it.  He works in mysterious ways and will continue to watch over us throughout this crazy journey.

So Proud of my Bestie!

Check out my Kathryn.  She and her blog, Toulouse Confessions are being featured at The Scoop on Poop!  She is quite the funny lady and gives us all a sense of what it is like to live the "glamorous" life of an American mother in Europe. 

journaling for you

my journal cover

Most every crafter I know struggles with journaling.  It isn't always easy to express our thoughts in words - especially if we aren't a "word oriented person."  I use my camera and my paper crafting to express my feelings.  When I was younger if I was having a rough time, I would take my camera and get lost for a couple of hours just shooting and taking a break from reality.

Now, as a busy mom, I can't just step away and get lost.  I have three little people that need my undivided attention.  (Even as I right this, I have a one year old in my lap asking for a juice.)  I am now nearing the end of the second week of Soul Restoration and if I have learned anything, it is to journal.  I must say, that even taking a few minutes each evening to jot down my thoughts - good or bad - helps me.  One of the great things about journaling is that it is for you and it's virtually free.  You can even art journal like I have been doing and include some painting, decoupage, collage, etc. to help you relax a little. 

Let's face it - stressed out mommy makes for an unhappy family.  There's a reason we see "When Momma aint happy, aint nobody happy" emblazoned on signs in crafty little boutiques.  It's the truth.  So, take some time, grab a notebook, and get going.  You are working toward a better you and you'll be surprised to find out how great you really are!

a collaged journal page

Color

color, a set on Flickr.

Working on some color shoots for school. The glow stick shoot came out super cool!

Baby, You're a Firework!

Sweet Kristjan - My Firework

I know.  It's Katy Perry.  I don't know what it is about this song, but everyone in my family loves it.  Maybe it's the happy beat.  Maybe it's the way she ah-ah-ahs.  Either way, we totally jam out to this song and I think it has a lot to do with a positive message and teaching everyone that we are unique and special in our own ways.  Some may view this anthem as cheesy, but it has been a great way to teach my kids about being yourself and being proud of who you are.  Not too shabby Katy!

I can't wait to scrap this song - the ideas are bumping around in my head like crazy.  What songs inspire you?  What music do you find creeping into your artwork?

Soul Restoration

I did it!  I took the plunge and signed up for The Brave Girls Club Soul Restoration!  I have never been so excited for a class.  The supply list was long and most of my scrappin stuff is in a box in Georgia, but I am totally stoked to work with what I have and be creative in a new way.  Honestly, the most exciting part is the actual goal of the class - to restore my soul.  Being sick and on the move for so long really took it's toll and I, like many women, don't take the time to fix me.  I fix everything else and everyone else.  That's what moms do.  That's what I do.

Well, now it's my turn and I am so looking forward to getting back to me.  It will be a challenge, but what good stretch isn't? 

Image courtesy of Brave Girls Club Artist Kallie